Stories

Eric Meusch holding goat.

Feb. 21, 2022

Q&A with Eric Meusch

Meusch enjoys working with livestock producers in seven counties over three regions. What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am a field specialist in livestock. I am based in Salem, and I serve seven counties in the East Central (Dent, Phelps, Pulaski, Crawford), Southeast (Shannon and Reynolds) and Southwest (Texas) regions. How long have you worked in this position? I started this position in March of 2021. I have been with Extension for three years. What is your favorite part about the work you do? I like working with producers who are…
Marco Walden, a junior majoring in plant sciences, was the first student to receive the Henry Kirklin Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to underrepresented minority students studying plant sciences. Photo courtesy of Marco Walden.

Feb. 21, 2022

An Eye-Opening Honor

A member of the Missouri National Guard, Marco Walden was called into disaster and humanitarian relief efforts during the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in mid-2020. Walden served the state in multiple ways as a combat medic, from helping with testing to providing vaccinations for individuals in smaller communities and towns. Walden, a junior majoring in plant sciences, took a gap year to help with the efforts. When he returned to the University of Missouri last year the first thing he did was meet with Mary Ann Gowdy, his advisor and an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Plant Science…
For nearly two years, graduate student Jermayne Smith has been researching the effects of remnant and restored prairies on small mammal and tick diversity. The goal of the work has been to examine how prairie type affects small mammal and tick diversity, as well as how the time since restoration impacts both species abundance and tick diversity. Photo courtesy of Jermayne Smith.

Feb. 21, 2022

A Rewarding Journey

When Jermayne Smith began the search for a graduate school experience he had one main goal in mind – find a project where he could work with small mammals. Samniqueka Halsey, an assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources within the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), had the perfect research idea in mind. For nearly two years, Smith has been researching the effects of remnant and restored prairies on small mammal and tick variety. Remnant prairies are true native prairies, with restored prairies being land that has been returned to a prairie state.
Craig Paukrt is presented with the Fisheries Excellence Award

Feb. 17, 2022

Craig Paukert Wins Fisheries Excellence Award from North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society

Craig Paukert, cooperative professor in fisheries and wildlife, received the Fisheries Excellence Award through the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society. This award is given to a North Central member who has made outstanding contributions to the fisheries profession. This contribution may be a single activity or a collection of achievements over the individual’s career.
Maya Johnson has taken part in two different internship opportunities during her time at MU, including one with ICL Food Specialties. Johnson has also conducted undergraduate research during her time in the food science and nutrition degree program. Photo courtesy of Maya Johnson.

Feb. 16, 2022

An Important Degree Program

In May, Maya Johnson will graduate with a food science and nutrition degree from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). It will actually be Johnson’s second Mizzou graduation ceremony. Johnson is a graduate of the Mizzou Academy High School program. She spent her senior year of high school in the program, earning her diploma during a ceremony at Memorial Union. “This program gave me a lot of freedom and allowed me to set my own pace as I completed my high school degree,” said Johnson, who is also minoring in hospitality management. “I had…
A George Washington Carver Graduate Fellow, Brittney Cade is using citizen science from multiple individuals throughout the southwestern United States who have recorded findings about the screwbean mesquite since 2002. Cade said the tree is an important habitat for wildlife and different desert birds and has historical significance as indigenous cultures use the wood for multiple purposes. Photo courtesy of Brittney Cade.

Feb. 14, 2022

A New World of Possibilities

From Chicago’s South Side, Brittney Cade went into college wanting to find a career related to her passion for animals. Cade said she thought there were only two viable careers in that field – veterinarian or zookeeper. Once she started at Iowa State University, she discovered a new world of possibilities related not only to animals, but to the environment and natural resources. Cade earned a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology from Iowa State and her master’s degree in biology (conservation emphasis) from Miami University, in Ohio. Cade is currently working on her PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources…
In just two years, Chase Goldinger’s YouTube channel has gained nearly 8,000 subscribers, who follow along as Goldinger features life on the farm and the hands-on learning opportunities offered through the agricultural systems technology (AST) degree program at MU. Goldinger, a sophomore, is majoring in AST. Photo courtesy of Chase Goldinger.

Feb. 11, 2022

A Video View of Hands-On Learning

With just a couple days left before he graduated from Palmyra High School, Chase Goldinger’s friends thought it would be funny if he made a YouTube video about him working out on his family’s farm. Goldinger thought the idea actually sounded like a lot of fun. “I put something together real quick and showed it to all my friends,” Goldinger said. “We had a good laugh at it. I think it got like 12 views, which was honestly a bit discouraging. But I made another video and then another one. It was the snowball effect; I was really enjoying putting…
Mizzou's historic columns

Feb. 11, 2022

CAFNR Welcomes New Faculty

As we begin the spring semester, we are excited to welcome the new faculty members in our college who have joined us. The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri is proud to introduce four new faculty members this spring who are ready to advance our core missions of research, teaching and Extension. They each bring expertise in their chosen fields of training, and represent three of our six divisions: Animal Sciences; Applied Social Sciences; and Plant Science & Technology. We are pleased to showcase the newest members of our college: Chandra Boosani Assistant Research…
Craig Schenck

Feb. 11, 2022

Get to Know Craig Schenck

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry. As an assistant professor, my roles are varied, most of my time is dedicated to teaching and research. Our lab works on understanding how and why plants produce so many chemical compounds. One of the main functions of these compounds is defense. They are also useful for humans, for example some serve as medicines. So, we are also interested in harnessing plants to make more of these useful chemical compounds. How long have you worked…

Feb. 9, 2022

Cotton Specialist Joins the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center

Bradley Wilson joined CAFNR as an assistant research professor at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (FD-REEC) on Jan. 2.  In this role, he will focus on developing, funding and conducting field experiments that improve cotton production practices in southeast Missouri. “We are so glad to welcome Bradley to the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center,” said Shibu Jose, CAFNR associate dean for research and director of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Stations. “The FD-REEC is vital for local producers, and we are thrilled to add Bradley’s experience to the team.” Wilson’s research and Extension program will focus on…